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Support Your Mental Health With These Microsoft Calendar Hacks

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Mental health has become an increasing priority in society today, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, there are a lot of events going on in the world today that can cause stress, anxiety, and depression in even the brightest of souls. Taking an active approach to getting mental health support is a good idea for everyone.

There are a lot of different approaches to managing mental health. Since mental health is different for everyone, your strategy might be completely different from your neighbor’s. This article will present one way you can support your mental health through the use of Microsoft Calendar and its organizational tools:

Organize More, Worry Less

The more organized you are, the easier it is to manage your mental health. For example, anxiety often comes from chaos and disorder. With Microsoft Calendar, you can regain control through customization features such as color-coding events.

Color-coding your calendar events is a straightforward process, but it can make all the difference. It will make even the busiest of schedules more manageable. You won’t feel as stressed out when going over your calendar as you might have done in the past.

Try using just a few different colors to divide up your calendar. Too many colors can be equally chaotic. Colors that are too similar also won’t be very effective. You could try something like this:

Red – Work events

Yellow – Personal activities

Blue – Family matters

Get Social

You might find it harder to get the mental health support you need when you’re by yourself. But, even if you’re a little out of your comfort zone, getting social can help you boost your mental health. Microsoft Calendar has some valuable tools for improving your social life.

For example, you can share calendars with family and friends to easily organize and plan events. As a result, coordinating schedules and committing to dates is simpler than ever. In addition, you’ll be able to attend more social events, which will allow you to let loose, laugh a little more, and forget about your worries for a spell.

You can also use your Microsoft Calendar to plan and attend workshops and help groups if you’re struggling with your mental health. Getting this kind of assistance is nothing to be ashamed of, primarily if it provides the support you need.

Compartmentalize

People undergoing stress often compartmentalize whether they intend to or not. When you compartmentalize, you divide or isolate the different events and feelings you’re experiencing to tackle them one at a time. Again, you can use your online calendar to do this in times of extreme stress.

With Microsoft Calendar, you can create multiple calendars to separate your work events from your family events. Some people might prefer to stick with color-coding, but it’s easier to keep everything separate for others. This can make it easier to keep a good work-life balance or maintain low-stress levels, both essential ingredients of good mental health.

Compartmentalization can be a negative if you take it too far. You can’t push away the things that stress you out indefinitely. Ignoring what stresses you out may end up making it worse over time. Try and use compartmentalization to focus on resolving issues that affect your mental health instead.

Make Time for Yourself

Regardless of the online calendar you use, you should be setting aside time for yourself. Sometimes our mental health gets out of hand because we’re getting too caught up with work or worrying about current events. Some scheduled ‘me time’ can be more beneficial than you realize.

Take a look at your Microsoft Calendar. What can you do to make some time for yourself? Perhaps you have some sick time accrued at work and can plan a day off to get pampered and get your mind off of work for a weekday. Maybe you need to block off an hour every night to enjoy a hobby such as reading or painting. These intentional activities, when planned out, will be an incredible support to your mental health.

Your Microsoft Calendar can also help you maintain a proper sleep schedule and make time for regular exercise. Both of these significantly impact your mental health state and should be prioritized accordingly.

Adjust Your Reminders

Reminders can be pretty funny. On the one hand, a well-timed reminder can save the day. But on the other hand, too many reminders can be overwhelming, stressful, and irritating. With Microsoft Calendar, you can find the perfect balance for your reminders.

Turning off unnecessary reminders will provide some peace of mind throughout the day when typically, your phone would be buzzing non-stop. If you have reminders set for only deadlines and meetings, you won’t be missing anything of great importance.

You can create your own reminders for different activities as well. For example, this could be an hourly reminder to drink water or an evening reminder to repeat some affirmations. These custom reminders can come in handy when looking to support your mental health.

An online calendar in and of itself is a simple tool that’s great for time management and organization. However, it can be used for so much more, even making it possible to improve your daily mental health.

Published First on Calendar. Read Here.

Image Credit: by Zachary DeBottis; Pexels; Thank you!

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Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

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Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

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Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

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Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

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Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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